Beauty As Art: The Best 2026 Met Gala Glam

When you think of the Met Gala, fashion is likely the first thing that comes to mind. But no look would be complete without the hairstylists and makeup artists behind the glam that ties everything together. This year's theme, "Costume Art" and the dress code "Fashion As Art," call for some dramatic glam: makeup that has us mesmerized, hairstyles that we would've never considered, and nails that make statement on their own. Whether it's subtle, clean girl makeup that allows the clothes to shine or intense smoky eyes, dramatic lips, and face gems that, while paired with the clothes, tells a story and creates a character, these are the 2026 Met Gala beauty looks that stood out to us.

For her Met Gala debut, Ejae's skin was notably radiant. What really stands out and completes her look, though, is her intense and dramatic smokey eye.

The power of Suki Waterhouse's flushed cheeks and shimmery eyelids simply cannot be denied. "I wanted Suki Waterhouse to embody a modern goddess, radiant, effortless, and luminous.” – makeup artist Cedric Jolive said. With the help of Armani beauty products, Waterhouse's completed glam was angelic.

We already had a good feeling that 2026 marked the return of the side-part—but Chase Sui Wonder's Met Gala hairdo is expanding our minds. Her perfectly slicked side-part bun also features two shiny, separated pieces of hair swept across her forehead.

Emma Chamberlain's Met Gala glam by makeup artist Lilly Keys is all about the details: the shimmery gold in the inner corners and the smoky, sleepy girl eyeshadow around her eyes, courtesy of Makeup By Mario, the lived in bleached brows, the moody lip, and her perfectly (yet slightly disheveled) pixie cut.

Lisa looked ethereal in silver and white, with perfectly placed wisps of hair along her forehead, billowy lashes, chrome eyeshadows, and face gems that completed the look.

Kylie Jenner's glam is always great—that's essentially her brand. But what makes this look a standout is the debut of her bleached eyebrows and the single swooped strand of hair on her forehead.

To the naked eye, Adut Akech Bior's beauty look might seem pared back with her glowy skin doing a lot of the heavy lifting. "Adut Akech’s look is really about clean, natural skin," makeup artist Keita Moore said. "Everything’s kept light—just enough coverage to even things out, a bit of warmth, and soft definition." But the rich berry blush, especially when the light catches it, truly makes this a standout look.